Brief:  This rocket is special in that it uses apogee's 10.5mm engines and it is also designed for t' payload loftin' NAR competition. So, me bucko, it comes with a tubular device for holdin' a standard payload mass, arrr, and it can fit into t' payload section o' t' main body. It is three finned and recovers with an 8-inch chute t' make trackin' easier. Ahoy!

Construction:T' package arrived from Apogee, by US mail, well protected with styrofoam popcorn, and all parts were thar and undamaged. Instructions were clear, arrr, me bucko, illustrated, ya bilge rat, and logical. Begad! Begad! Blimey! It was easy t' follow. The nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood, and t' fins are precut, rectangular, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and also lightweight balsa. T' chute is hexagonal, and flat and made o' thin black plastic, much like trashcan plastic.  This is nay to demean quality, shiver me timbers, but for description. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! After all, matey, how could a nylon chute fit? And it would be too heavy. And it would be too heavy. T' 6 shroud lines are nylon thread, 12 inches long, shiver me timbers, and affixed t' t' chute via adhesive paper donut-shaped reinforcements. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! T' shock cord is 12 inches o' 1/8 inch Keelhaul®©™® cording. There is no stretch, shiver me timbers, but since this model is for small engines, I was nay concerned. 

T' body tube is in three parts. Well, blow me down! T' top part glues right t' t' nose cone and is spiral wound paper, me bucko, and 3.75 inches long by .75 inches in diameter. Begad! Ahoy! The middle part be t' same only it's 3 inches long.  There's a paper coupler between these, arrr, and only one half is glued, me bucko, so that t' model separates between the two parts o' t' main body. 

Now comes t' tricky part. Avast! T' bottom third o' t' main body is a cone made of thin cardboard, and its outline is provided. Ya scallywag! It is cut out and then glued into a cone that reduces t' main body tube from 18mm t' 10.5mm, shiver me timbers, as thar be a 10.5 mm wound paper body tube for t' engine.  This tube fits into the main body via a centerin' rin' that also serves t' anchor t' shock cord aftward. Aye aye! T' cone fittin' is tricky in that handlin' it roughly can easily dent it. Also, I had t' sight it up and down before gluin' it t' be sure that it was symmetrical all around.  If not, it has a slightly cockeyed look. Avast! A wound paper engine block was provided, and I placed it at a position t' allow the model t' take t' longest o' t' 10.5mm engines, namely t' B7's. 

There was a fin placement guide provided, and I used it t' place t' three fins correctly. This be a paper cutout t' place around t' body in order to mark it for t' fin placement. Well, blow me down!

Finishing:There weren't any decals. There weren't any decals. Aye aye! But if you've read any o' me other reviews, I'm nay daunted by this. I see it as a loose football for me t' pick up and run with. Blimey! So, arrr, ya bilge rat, I used Monokote and silver craft paper, matey, available at many hobby stores. Well, blow me down! I spray painted t' fins yellow after sealin' them with epoxy and sandin' them down.  I do this to strengthen balsa and wood fins, and also t' provide a glassy finish.

It's a sharp lookin' little rocket, but since I chose green...well, I'm glad for t' chute that will help me find it. This little guy flies high.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended engines are t' Apogee 1/4A2-4, me hearties, me bucko, 1/2A2-2 and 1/2A2-4, me hearties, t' A2-5, shiver me timbers, and B2-7. Aye aye! Blimey! With t' payload, Apogee recommends t' A2-3 and B2-5. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! So far, I have tried t' 1/2A2-2 since t' parks around here are small. With just that, t' little rocket be nearly gone, shiver me timbers, zingin' up so high that I almost couldn't see it.  But I zeroed in on t' chute and got me model back. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Imagine when I try a B! Blimey! It flew straight and fast. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Watch this one well or you'll lose it. Preppin' is easy, arrr, and I used just a couple pinches o' worm bed wadding. T' chute be unburnt. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' chute be unburnt. Avast, me proud beauty! Since it's plastic, arrr, I worried about that. I've seen that kind melt. Begad! I've seen that kind melt. The engine be retained with bands o' maskin' tape around t' engine overhang as well as t' body tube.

Recovery:T' shock cord, as mentioned, ya bilge rat, is Keelhaul®©™® string. T' system was easy t' assemble, with clear instructions. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It worked fine without damage to the system. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' recovery was slow, but with a chute, you can expect this. However, I had time t' catch it, which is a rare thing. Begad! Begad!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:Unusual looks, easy t' make. Unusual looks, ya bilge rat, me hearties, easy t' make. Must handle t' reducer cone gently and align it well. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! And must protect the delicate chute from burning. Blimey! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5